Reporting Child Abuse

REMEMBER: Your Role is to Report.

There is to be no investigation by you or anyone else at the parish, mission, school, or diocesan level.

If allegation of abuse involves any member of the clergy, employee, or volunteer of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, you must contact the Office of the District Attorney and the Office of Child and Youth Protection in addition to DFCS within 24 hours.

Reporting Child Abuse

When Should I Report?

Victim discloses allegation of abuse or you suspect the victim is being abused

Notify Pastor/Principal as soon as you can within 24 hours

Report to DFCS within 24 hours from the time the report of abuse was received

If the child is in immediate danger please call 911

What Should I Report?

Please provide DFCS with as much information as you can. Here’s a comprehensive list of items the DFCS intake representative will probably ask from you:

Child’s name and Age

Child’s Address

Parents’ Names

Phone Numbers

Details of Suspected Abuse

Dates

Times

Places

Alleged abuser’s name and relationship to the child

How Should I Report?

Reports of child abuse and neglect

Can be made by phone to

1-855-GA CHILD

24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

1-855-422-4453

Archdiocesan policy requires for a follow up letter to be sent to your local DFCS office detailing all the information provided to the intake center in order to keep records of our response to allegations of abuse.